1. 9 killed, 10 injured in fresh flare-up in ethnic violence-hit Manipur
2. NSA Ajit Doval, US counterpart Sullivan address meet on critical, emerging tech
3. PM hands over 70k job letters, hits out at Oppn
4. Section 144 imposed in Uttarakhand’s Purola; police warn of action if law violated
5. Law panel starts fresh consultation on Uniform Civil Code, seeks public feedback

What Else

6. Uttarakhand’s Naini Saini airport near China border to resume operations after regulator nod
7. Chintan Shivir: Border forces and CAPFs asked to check illegal encroachment in their areas, inform IB, RAW
8. 2 minors among 4 killed as explosion rocks illegal firecracker godown in UP, owner held
9. Indian Army: Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai assumes command of Chinar Corps
10. New Consulate will further deepen India-UAE trade, investment relationship: MoS
11. PFI ‘master weapon trainer’ arrested from Karnataka: NIA
12. Indian minister arrested on money laundering charges reportedly needs urgent bypass surgery
13. Gambia syrup deaths: Indian govt probes bribery claim to rig testing of syrup
14. US-China relations: Secretary of State Blinken’s visit confirmed after phone call with China’s Qin Gang
15. US cracks down on flight training for Chinese military pilots with export restrictions
16. House unanimously passes bill to work to remove China’s ‘developing country’ label
17. NA adopts resolution seeking speedy trial of May 9 rioters under military law
18. Chances of Pakistan securing IMF bailout are ‘dimming’: Moody’s

9 killed, 10 injured in fresh flare-up in ethnic violence-hit Manipur

• 9 people were killed and 10 injured in a gunfight, that erupted in Agijang on the border of Imphal East and Kangpokpi between 10 and 10:30 pm on Tue when a group of armed assailants descended upon the area in ethnic violence-hit Manipur, police said on Wed
• The gunfight was triggered after security forces rushed to the area to counter the assailants, said the police chief.
• At least 115 people have been killed and another 40k displaced since violence between the tribal Kukis, and the Meiteis, the dominant community in Imphal Valley.
• The violence was triggered during a protest against a court order for granting scheduled tribe status to Meities.
• On Mon, prominent civil society organizations from Meitei and Kuki refused to be a part of a peace committee the Union govt has constituted to broker peace. (here)
• Authorities have reduced the curfew relaxation from the usual 5 am to 6 pm in Imphal East and West to 5 am to 9 am and will remain in 11 of the 16 districts of Manipur,
• Internet services are suspended in the entire northeastern state.
• Meanwhile, reps from Kuki and Naga communities, including members of legislative assembly from both sides, came to Delhi on Tue and met Union Home Min. (here)
• The official quarters of woman Manipur minister Nemcha Kipgen in the Lamphel area in Imphal West was set on fire by strangers on Wed night, an official said. (here)

NSA Ajit Doval, US counterpart Sullivan address meet on critical, emerging tech

• NSA Ajit Doval on Tue met his US counterpart Jake Sullivan in Delhi wherein they held restricted discussions on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
• Sullivan and Doval held delegation-level talks with a focus on security in the Indo-Pacific amidst Chinese continued belligerence against Taiwan and using Myanmar to gain access to the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean.
• Later, the duo attended the 2^nd Track 1.5 dialogue on iCET which was organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry, academia, and industry from both countries.
• The duo unveiled an ambitious roadmap for Indo-US collaboration in 7 specific high-technology areas, including semiconductors, next-gen telecom, AI, and defense.
• Sullivan is currently on an official visit to India at the invitation of NSA Doval, along with a delegation of senior US govt officials and leaders of American industry.
• This comes in the backdrop of PM Modi’s scheduled state visit to the US from Jun 21 to 24, wherein he will be hosted by President Biden for a state dinner.
• Earlier, PM Modi too met Sullivan and shared the pictures on Twitter. (here)
• Def Ministry to take up MQ-9 Reaper drone deal with US on Thu: Ahead of PM Modi’s visit to the US, the Ministry is going to discuss the acquisition of MQ-9 Reaper drones from the US. (here)
• Ukraine’s Yermak Dials Doval Seeking India’s Support for Peace Plan: Key focus according to Ukraine Readout: Ukrainian Peace Formula, India’s Presence at Global Peace Summit, Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant incident, and Situation at frontline
• This is the 4^th talk of Yermak to Doval this year regarding the Ukrainian Peace Plan and the war in Ukraine.
• Yermak dialed Doval in Feb seeking support for the Ukrainian Peace Plan. (here)

PM hands over 70k job letters, hits out at Oppn

• PM Modi on Tue distributed appointment letters to 70k candidates and accused Opposition parties of promoting corruption, nepotism, and malpractice in govt schemes
• Addressing virtually an employment fair on Tue where he distributed 70,126 letters, the PM alleged that dynastic parties looted the youth of the country with “rate cards”.
• 28,312 letters were given to the Railways.
• The PM said the employment campaign has started to emerge as a new identity of the BJP and the National Democratic Alliance-led Union government.
• The PM alleged that corruption, malpractices in schemes, and misuse of public funds used to be the identity of previous governments. (here)

Section 144 imposed in Uttarakhand’s Purola; police warn of action if law violated

• The district administration in Uttarakhand has imposed Section 144 in Purola where communal tensions over an alleged attempt to abduct a minor girl last month.
• The administration has also refused permission to hold maha panchayat in Purola.
• Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) authorizes the authorities to issue an order to prohibit the assembly of four or more people in an area.
• Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar said on Wed that no one will be allowed to disturb law and order in the state
• CM Dhami had last week held a high-level meeting in the secretariat and said that the “cases of love jihad that are coming up will be strictly investigated”. (here)

Law panel starts fresh consultation on Uniform Civil Code, seeks public feedback

• The Law Commission of India has initiated a fresh consultation process on the Uniform Civil Code.
• The 22^nd LCI has decided to solicit the views and ideas of the public at large and recognized religious organizations about the UCC.
• The LCI said it had received overwhelming responses and the 21^st Law Commission issued the consultation paper on “Reforms of Family Law” on Aug 31, 2018.
• The law panel said keeping in mind the relevance and importance of the subject and also the various Court orders on the subject, to initiate fresh consultation on the subject.
• The UCC proposes to introduce personal laws that would apply to all citizens equally, irrespective of their religion, gender, caste, etc.
• The Uniform Civil Code essentially refers to a common set of laws governing personal matters such as marriage, divorce, adoption, inheritance, and succession.
• At present, the personal laws of various communities are largely governed by their religion. (here)

Uttarakhand’s Naini Saini airport near China border to resume operations after regulator nod

• Naini Saini Airport, which shut down within a year of operationalization in 2019, will become functional once again.
• The country’s aviation regulator DGCA has granted an aerodrome license to the UCADA, which currently manages the airport located strategically close to the India-China border in Pithoragarh.
• Earlier, the airport was operational in 2019 with flights to Delhi and Dehradun, but operations were stopped within a year.
• According to the reports, flights will initially connect the Jolly Grant and the Hindon airports in Dehradun and Ghaziabad respectively.
• Currently, Uttarakhand has 2 major airports; Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun and Pantnagar Airport in Udham Singh Nagar.
• With an airstrip of nearly 1,500 meters, the airport can handle small turbo-prop aircraft such as ATR 72-600. (here)

Chintan Shivir: Border forces and CAPFs asked to check illegal encroachment in their areas, inform IB, RAW

• Border guarding forces deployed along the front with Pakistan, B’desh, Nepal, and other countries have been directed to keep a check on “illegal encroachments” and possible suspicious activities that may pose a security threat to the nation
• The issue was discussed and a plan of action was finalized during a ‘Chintan Shivir’ of IPS officers working in the Central Armed Police Forces and National Security Guard that was held here on Mon under the chairmanship of Union home minister Amit Shah.
• The top brass and other senior commanders of these forces were asked to keep a strict vigil against any illegal encroachment taking place in their respective areas. (here)
• BSF, its B’desh counterpart to undertake 5 developmental projects each in border areas: Border Security Force and its Bangladeshi counterpart BGB have agreed to undertake 5 projects each – including infrastructure building – roads, bridges, schools, retaining walls and power supply works — on their side of the border.
• Among the works to be undertaken on the Indian side of the border is the construction of Bailey’s bridge on Sonia River, a bridge near Ragna post, a retaining wall along River Bugai, and a brick road to village Indiapara; besides repair on a 750-m road.
• On the issue of violence, both sides concurred on working jointly and engaging professionally, enhancing night-time concurrent coordinated patrol; sharing real-time info; intensifying public awareness programs; and bringing the culprits to justice. (here)
• Nitin Agrawal, a 1989 batch IPS of Kerala cadre, took charge today as DG, BSF.
• M.Tech from IIT Delhi and M.Phil in Social Science, he has held various prominent positions in Kerala Police and served in CRPF, CISF, ITBP, and SSB

2 minors among 4 killed as explosion rocks illegal firecracker godown in UP, owner held

• 4 people, including 2 children, were killed, while 7 others were injured after a massive fire and an explosion rocked an illegal firecracker godown in Sambhal, UP on Tue.
• The incident happened in Gunnaur township in the evening, police said.
• Initially, a fire broke out in an illegal firecracker godown, belonging to Sabir Ali.
• Ali was later arrested in connection with the case. (here)

Indian Army: Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai assumes command of Chinar Corps

• Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai has assumed the command of the strategic Kashmir-based Chinar Corps of the Indian Army in Srinagar.
• He encouraged all ranks to take additional steps required to connect with citizens to jointly work towards peace & development.
• Gen Ghai, an alumnus of the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, was commissioned in Dec 1989 into the Kumaon Regiment. (here)

• Two terrorists neutralized near LoC in J&K’s Kupwara: Two terrorists have been neutralized in a joint operation by the army and Kashmir Police on Tue in J&K.
• The forces also recovered arms and ammunition from the site including two AK rifles, four hand grenades, and other ‘war-like stores’.
• According to reports, a LeT terrorist associate was arrested by Bandipora Police.
• It is said that this was part of another joint operation by the Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and the Central Reserve Police Force.
• The terrorist associate was arrested in Baharabad Hajin and two Chinese hand grenades were recovered from the person. (here)

New Consulate will further deepen India-UAE trade, investment relationship: Muraleedharan

• UAE inaugurated the new Consulate in Hyderabad on Wed where Minister of State for Ministry of External Affairs V Muraleedharan was in attendance.
• Stress the significance of the growing India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, MoS expressed confidence that the new Consulate will enhance and deepen the trade and investment relationship between India and the UAE.
• Earlier, the dy foreign minister, UAE, Thani Al Zeyoudi visited India and said that the trade ties between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi have proliferated following CEPA.
• Highlighting the central goals of India-UAE CEPA, the UAE minister said that one of them was to increase the flow of goods and services between the two countries. (here)

PFI ‘master weapon trainer’ arrested from Karnataka: NIA

• The NIA on Tue arrested a PFI main weapons trainer, who had not only assumed a new identity and relocated to Karnataka but also changed his job to escape the law
• He was involved in the Nizamabad PFI terror conspiracy case.
• A criminal conspiracy case pertains to hatched by the now-banned outfit PFI to recruit and radicalize youth and trained them with arms to carry out terrorist activities.
• NIA revealed that he had relocated with his family to the Cowl Bazar area of the Bellary, Karnataka, where he was working as a plumber, Basheer.
• Yunus was a master weapons trainer and was providing weapons training to the youth recruited by PFI in the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana regions. (here)

Indian minister arrested on money laundering charges reportedly needs urgent bypass surgery

• An Indian minister from Tamil Nadu, who was admitted to a hospital shortly after being arrested for money laundering, has been advised to bypass surgery at the earliest.
• V Senthil Balaji, the state electricity and excise minister, was arrested by the law enforcement agency, ED for an alleged money laundering case related to a job racket.
• Balaji has been named as an accused in a job scam that took place during his tenure as transport minister from 2011-2015 in the Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK govt.
• He joined the rival DMK in 2018. (here)
• State govt “withdraws general consent” for investigation by CBI: Hours after arrest, the state Govt on Wed ordered to “withdraw general consent” for CBI for investigation.
• The state home department issued the order that withdrew its general consent for an investigation by CBI.
• As per Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946 (Central Act XXV of 1946) in any State if the CBI needs to investigate they have to get prior permission from that State.
• West Bengal, Rajasthan, Kerala, Mizoram, Punjab, and Telangana also made it mandatory for CBI to seek permission.
• Balaji was sent to judicial custody for 14 days till Jun on Wed. (here)

Gambia syrup deaths: Indian govt probes bribery claim to rig testing of syrup

• Reuters – The govt has launched an inquiry into an allegation – a pharma regulator, (for a bribe) helped to switch cough syrups samples (linked to the death of at least 70 children in Gambia) before it had tested
• Citing a letter to the Haryana Anti-Corruption Bureau, the report said a lawyer Yashpal has accused the state’s Drug Controller Manmohan Taneja of taking a bribe of $605,419.
• Yashpal did not mention where he got this information from in the letter or gave any evidence for his claim about the syrups manufactured by Maiden Pharmaceuticals.
• Speaking to Reuters, Yashpal said he learned about the bribe allegation from 2 individuals in India’s pharma industry, 1 working with Maiden, but refused to identify.
• Yashpal told Reuters that he wanted the matter to be formally investigated, and he was waiting to be asked to submit an affidavit that would trigger the investigation (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

US-China relations: Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit confirmed after phone call with China’s Qin Gang

• US Secy of State Antony Blinken will visit Beijing on Sun-Mon, the two sides have confirmed, a move that could put bilateral relations on better traction after months of acrimony.
• While in Beijing, Blinken will meet senior officials to discuss the importance of maintaining open lines of communication to responsibly manage the relationship.
• He will also raise bilateral issues of concern, global and regional matters, and potential cooperation on shared transnational challenges, spokesman Matthew Miller said.
• Earlier this year Blinken canceled a planned visit to China after an alleged Chinese spy balloon was shot down over US airspace in Feb.
• The Chinese foreign ministry also confirmed the visit would go ahead, hours after a phone call on Wed between Blinken and Qin Gang,
• Qin told Washington’s top envoy that the US should “show respect” and stop undermining China’s sovereignty, security, and development interests. (here)

US cracks down on flight training for Chinese military pilots with export restrictions

• Washington on Mon added 43 entities to an export control list, including FSG Ltd, a security and aviation company, for training Chinese military pilots and other activities.
• The Test Flying Academy of South Africa, a flight school under scrutiny by Britain for recruiting British ex-military pilots to train Chinese military fliers, was also added.
• Companies on the list are restricted from receiving US exports for activities deemed contrary to US interests.
• The new listings include FSG sites in China, Kenya, Laos, and the UAE; TFASA units in S Africa, China, the UAE, and the UK; and AVIC entities in China and S Africa.
• The companies could not immediately be reached for comment.
• 31 Chinese entities in total were added to the list.
• 9 Chinese and Pakistani companies were added for contributing to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program and other weapons contributions. (here)

House unanimously passes bill to work to remove China’s ‘developing country’ label

• The House unanimously passed a bill that would direct the Secy of State to work toward stripping the PRC of its “developing country” label in international organizations
• The measure — titled the PRC Is Not a Developing Country Act — cleared the House in a 415-0 vote.
• The legislation would direct the Secretary of State to “pursue” altering the status of the PRC from a developing country to an upper middle-income country, high-income country, or developed country for international organizations.
• Additionally, it would direct the top diplomat to work “to ensure that the PRC does not receive preferential treatment or assistance within the organization.”
• “The PRC is the world’s second-largest economy, accounting for 18.6% of the global economy,” Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.), a sponsor of the measure, said on the House floor (here)

Pakistan: National Assembly adopts resolution seeking speedy trial of May 9 rioters under military law

• The NA on Mon passed a resolution seeking a speedy trial of all the elements — including PTI Chief Imran Khan — involved in the May 9 mayhem under Army Act.
• The lower house unanimously passed a resolution demanding that action against the culprits and instigators of May 9 violent acts should be completed without any delay.
• The resolution was moved by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif in the house.
• “These incidents caused an irreparable loss to the state and state institutions,” read the resolution, adding that the agenda is based on “enmity” against Pakistan. (here)

IMF flags FY24 budget, says tax amnesty against program conditionality

• The IMF has raised several issues in the FY 2023-24 (FY24) budget tabled by the govt in the NA last week but remains ready to work with Pakistan to refine ahead of its passage, the lender’s resident representative, Esther Ruiz Perez said on Wed.
• A day before the tabling of the budget, Ruiz had said Pakistan needed to satisfy the IMF on 3 counts, including the budget for the upcoming FY before its board will review.
• Ruiz said a new tax amnesty scheme proposed by the govt in the budget sets a “damaging precedent” and runs against the program’s conditionality.
• This did not specify which particular scheme IMF was taking issue with. (here)
• Chances of Pakistan securing IMF bailout are ‘dimming’: Moody’s

• As the govt struggles to meet external debt obligations, Moody has warned that Pakistan is at an increased risk of failing to restart its $6.7 billion bailout program with IMF, putting the country closer to a sovereign default.
• “There are increasing risks that Pakistan may be unable to complete the IMF program that expires at the end of June,” a sovereign analyst with the company, Grace Lim said.
• Lim said: “Without an IMF program, Pakistan could default, given its very weak reserves.”
• While the govt has pledged to meet billions of debt onuses, investors have remained skeptical about the dollar bonds trading in the distressed territory since last year. (here)

At least 79 people drown as refugee boat sinks off Greece

• At least 79 people have died and hundreds more are feared missing in the deadliest migrant shipwreck off Greece this year.
• The victims, nearly all of them men from Afghanistan and Pakistan, drowned when the large trawler they were traveling in capsized off the southern Peloponnese.
• It was unclear how many passengers were missing from the vessel, which had set out from eastern Libya and was heading for Italy.
• By nightfall, Greece’s caretaker govt had declared 3 days of national mourning to mark the tragedy.
• About 104 passengers had been rescued as of Wed afternoon, officials said. (here)